Short but beautiful power hike on Cardwell Hill Drive

We just discovered another new trail at the end of Cardwell Hill Drive. This one starts from the parking lot heading west with a 10 degree uphill grade for about a half mile where you quickly climb from about 500 feet to an elevation of 919 ft. There are no extraordinary views here of the valley below or of other peaks, though looking back you can see Dimple Hill in the distance. At this point (right at the first clearing where you see some large telephone lines) the path begins to go down hill quickly several hundred feet lower than the elevation you first started at.

Of course, right at this clearing, it began to rain, and having already brought my heart rate up to a good thumping, the first thought that entered my mind at this juncture was how difficult it would be returning along this route. Yes, Pedal Poppers and I had a notion of turning back right then and there, but we decided it was time to WTFU (anyone who has ever worked with other men and women outdoors in crummy weather will understand this acronym, since in our experience as volunteer workers for Oregon State Parks, adding to that my experience as an observer of human beings in the field of Anthropology, it is women who are more likely to brave such conditions). Of course, I knew this meant the return trip was really going to hurt. But there was much to see, some beautiful little spring flowers, creepy crawly critters, newly budding trees, some cute little streams and waterfalls, and some old rusty cars... yes, cars.

The trail flattened out past the descent of the first hill into a beautiful oak recovery forest area along Mary's River.

This area was from Howard K. Smith's 143 acres and became part of the Benton County Park System through the Greenbelt Land Trust in 1997.


This trail is really an extension of Cardwell Hill Drive and is a stunning well-graveled hike with parking lots at both ends, and if you loop back toward the east parking lot, your thighs are going to be burning having to go steeply back up hill for about a mile! If you're mountain biking, this is going to be a decent work-out. It turns out to be about a five to six mile hike down the gated-off Cardwell Hill Drive (which is a continuation of Oak Creek Drive as it turns off toward the McDonald Dunn Forest trailhead area we usually visit).We saw no other people during this hike, so it was pleasant and serene.

Walking along Mary's River was breathtaking especially at the part where you can wander down to the river's edge and look up at the old railroad tracks and truss bridge. Of course, we gave into our inner mischief and scrambled up onto the tracks - feeling like the kids from Stand By Me. We even found a sledge hammer rusting away beneath the vegetation by the tracks. Kind of a neat find. Pedal Poppers packed it home in a backpack.

We imagined ourselves crawling back across the tracks should a train come, but we headed off, back along the path assuming the tracks were no longer in use. Then, guess what! We heard that train, and along it came!

So, rest assured, my thighs were burning as we returned to the car. Pedal Poppers handled the steep climb much better, and thankfully gave me the push of hope to get back up the last big hill.  Now that we're home, we've juiced and are relaxing, watching Graham Norton on You Tube. Best talk show ever! Watch the one with Russell Crowe, Amy Adams, and Henry Cavill. Hilarious!

Catch you all later.

-Sprocket